News
Posted 8th June 2010 ACAS Guidance on Reducing World Cup Abesenteeism
ACAS has issued practical advice to help guide employers which can be accessed online at www.acas.org.uk/worldcup
Posted 12th May 2010 Volcanis Ash - Employment Rights
People who are unable to get to work because of the travel disruption have no legal right to be paid for the days they do not work, since employees are responsible for getting to work and if they do not get to work, they are not entitled to be paid for the days they do not work, unless this has been agreed with the employer.
Employers may take a more flexible approach however, by treating the time off work as special paid leave or telling the employee to take the time off as part of their annual leave. Employers should be careful to deal consistently with employees who cannot make it into work, to avoid any possibility of discrimination or grievances being raised. Employers should keep in regular contact with employees to find out how long they are likely to be away from work, to keep to a minimum any need for other workers to be taken on to cover the work. Employees can also be asked to work remotely by using phones or hotel computers or laptops, with the employer agreeing to pay the phone bill.
Employees should not be disciplined or dismissed if their absence was due to circumstances beyond their control.
Posted 31st March 2010 Sick Notes
From 6 April, sick notes are replaced by fitness for work medical certificates, known as fit notes. The new form allows a doctor to say that an employee may be fit for work, subject to changes at the workplace, rather than saying they are either fit or not fit to do their normal job, as was the case with the old-style sick note
Posted 31st March 2010 Insolvency
The Insolvency Service is increasing the amount of the deposit for bankruptcy petitions:
• debtor’s petition £450• creditor’s petition £600.
The court fees for bankruptcy petitions remain the same.
Posted 31st March 2010 Training
From 6 April, certain employees will get the right to ask their employers for time from work to undertake training.
Posted 31st March 2010 Employment Tribunal Fast Track
From 6 April, there is a new fast-track system to enforce unpaid employment tribunal awards, known as 'Employment Tribunal Fast Track'. It means that workers who have been awarded compensation by the employment tribunal but whose employers have failed to pay can instruct a High Court Enforcement Officer (HCEO) to act on their behalf to collect the award as soon as the employer has failed to pay. The new scheme applies to awards made on or after 6 April, and to awards made before this date where the award has not already been filed with the High Court.
